Who am I,
Before I get started, I created this web page not just to leave my mark on the world, but for everyone in this world who believes that they are an "average Joe", a nobody, someone who's not famous, or any other negative idea or feeling of less worth. Everyone's life is important and we all make an impact and contribution to this world and all those we come in contact with in life. Be proud of your accomplishments, your failures, your experiences, and most importantly YOURSELF! Your life has meaning and value. You don't need to be a famous actor, athlete, or rock star. You don't need any of that to leave your mark. If you're reading this remember these words:
"Stand firm, Persevere." - Charley Puente
My name is Charley Puente, I was born and raised in the Bronx and Queens, N.Y. in September of 1977. I am first Generation U.S. Citizen with an ethnic background from the Dominican Republic. I am fluent in both Spanish and English. In the Bronx, I grew up on 167th St. and Grand Concourse. The South Bronx. Growing up in N.Y.C. during my childhood I learned to grow up fast. Although it was just five boroughs in the city it felt like you lived in a large world where everything was survival of the fittest.
I came into this world around one of N.Y.C.'s blackouts, the serial killer Son of Sam, Gangs ruled the streets and the city (especially the Bronx) was literally burnt to the ground. A group called the Young Lords seized the hospital where I was born in because of poor health care and maltreatment. It was also declared the worst hospital in the entire state. Drugs like Crack Cocaine hit the streets like the plague. Heroin addicts lay on the streets everywhere no matter what time of day. I remember counting how many crack bottles and heroine needles I would see just going to the Bodega (Corner Store) at the end of the block.
After our 6th-floor apartment got burglarized when I was about 5 or 6, my family moved to Corona Queens, across the street from the Lefrak City projects. It's a massive twenty-building residential development arranged into X-shaped pods with darkened windows. It was considerably nicer than the Bronx but not by much. This is where I grew up until I graduated high school in 1995 with a guaranteed trip to the Bronx every weekend to be with the family that didn't move to Queens. Once I graduated High School. I high-tailed out of N.Y.C. and joined the Marine Corps. This is where my motto STAND FIRM, PERSEVERE was born.
The rest is history...not really, it's just on the next tabs up top.
N.Y.C. 70's - 80's
